Surgical Techniques

There are three types of eye removal and numerous different options for implant. Orbital implants and ocular prostheses are used by the surgeon to restore a more natural appearance.

Evisceration

Removal of the internal eye contents, but the sclera is left behind with the extraocular muscles still attached. Either generalor local anesthetics might possibly be used during eviscerations, with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents injected intravenously

An ocular prosthetic can be fit over the eviscerated eye in order to improve cosmesis.

Only the contents of the eye (iris, lens, vitreous, retina, and choroid) are removed

The leaves behind a pocket of sclera.

Improved motility: because the muscles that control eye movement remain attached to the sclera

Sclera is filled with an orbital implant or sphere.

The sphere might possibly be made of MEDPOR®, PMMA or hydroxyapatite material.

This orbital sphere or implant remains permanently

A prosthetic eye can be made 6-8 weeks later by an ocularist

Contrast with ENUCLEATION

Enucleation

removal of the eyeball, but the adjacent structures of the eye socket and eyelids remain. An intraocular tumor excision requires an enucleation, not an evisceration.

Enucleation is removal of the eye, leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact.

This type of ocular surgery is indicated for a number of different ocular tumors, in eyes that have suffered severe trauma, and in eyes that are blind and painful due to other disease.

Auto-enucleation (oedipism) and other forms of serious self inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm which usually results from serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia The name comes from Oedipus, who gouged out his eyes in penance after having sex with his mother and killing his father

Details

The entire eye (iris, lens, vitreous, retina, and choroid) AND SCLERA are removed

Muscles are detached from the sclera and might possibly be re-attached to the implant

The implant might possibly be made of MEDPOR®, PMMA or hydroxyapatite material, or might possibly be a dermis fat graft